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Press release on the occasion of World Teachers' Day : Free All detained teachers in the United Arab Emirates

Geneva on October 5, 2018

The fifth of October marks the World’s Teachers' Day that was decided under the joint recommendation of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the status of teachers and was adopted on October 5, 1966, with the recommendation on professors and researchers working in higher education that was added on 1997.

Both recommendations emphasized the respect for the dignity, job security, professional freedom, individual academic freedom and rights and freedoms of teachers without arbitrary interference or repression.

On this occasion, the International Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ICJHR) pays tribute to all the imprisoned teachers and educators in the UAE convicted because of their views. In fact, the ICJHR has observed the violation of the teachers’ dignity, job security, academic freedom and syndicalism, freedom of expression as well as other rights and freedoms. Besides, the number of those working in the education field and are detained in the UAE, is approximately 20 teachers at all levels of education.

Despite the fact that Article 30 and 33 of the UAE Constitution enshrine the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association, in addition to Article 17 which states that education is essential to the advancement of society; however, Emirati laws including Federal Labor Law of 1980 and Federal Law No. 11 of 2008 on Human Resources did not perpetuate neither the right to trade union and collective bargaining, nor the freedom of educator and academic freedom.

Emirati authorities also intervened on May 2, 2011 under the decision of the Ministry of Social Affairs, to dissolve the elected council of the UAE Teachers' Association and appoint a temporary administration, since the former agreed to join the initiative of the UAE Jurists' Association, known as “Public Elections for a Wise Ummah” " initiative.

It is known that the UAE authorities started to crackdown on opponents and reformers following a series of reform initiatives, by excluding a number of educators and teachers affiliated with Al Islah association because of their reformist ideology and human rights activities, fearing the impact of their thinking on young people; many among them were assigned administrative tasks instead of teaching before being arrested and tried within the UA94 Group.

Moreover, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention stated in its Opinion No. 2013/60 that the detention of 61 accused, including 18 teachers within the well-case known as the "UAE 94," is an arbitrary detention, in addition to the fact that the UN Panel called upon the UAE government to immediately release them and give them the appropriate compensation.

Besides, the security services did not hesitate to harass the teachers during arrests and secret prisons, ignoring their basic rights, in addition to the fact that they were also exposed to numerous forms of torture, ill-treatment and deprivation by the prison administration. Indeed, the authorities' policy continues to distance and threaten those working in the education field, and to arrest anyone who expresses opinion or criticism regarding human rights or the system of government. The last of those arrested is Dr. Nasser bin Ghaith, who was detained on August 15, 2015 at his workplace as a professor and academic in economy, because of his positions and opinions on social media. He was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for publishing "false information aiming at damaging the State’s reputation and status and one of its institutions”.

In view of the above, the International Centre for Justice and Human Rights calls upon the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to intervene internationally and urge the authorities of the UAE to:

Immediately and unconditionally release all the teachers and detainees jailed in UAE prisons for their freedom of expression and desist from violating their right to job security, freedom of association and her rights and freedoms.

Conduct an impartial and independent investigation into the removal of the detained teachers from their work, and their arbitrary arrest and exposure to torture as well as ill-treatment, and hold accountable those responsible for these violations, and enable the victims of their right to remedy, rehabilitation and reparation.

Attachments

List of detained teachers/educators:

Abdul Rahman Al-Hadidi, teacher, from Sharjah, detained on July 16, 2012, 10 years in prison.

Abdulraheem Naqi, former head of planning department, Ras Al Khaimah Educational Zone, from Ras Al-Khaymah, detained on October 12, 2012, 10 years prison.

Ahmed Al-Tabour Al-Nuaimi, Social worker and school principal, from Ras Al-Khaymah, detained on May 18, 2012, 10 years in prison.

Ahmed Saqer Al-Suweidi, Teacher and educational expert, from Ajman, detained on July 30, 2012, 10 years in prison.

Essa Modhad Al-Serri, former director of the General Education Department at the Ministry of Education, born in 1962, from Sharjah, detained on July 17, 2012, 10 years in prison.

Fuad Mohammed Al-Hammadi, former head of Training and Functional Development Department, Ministry of Education, from Ajman, detained on July 31, 2012, 10 years in prison.

Hassan al-Jabiri, former Deputy Director, Abu Dhabi Educational Zone for Planning and Management, and Acting Director of the Department of Management, from Abu Dhabi, detained on April 9, 2012, 10 years in prison, in addition to the withdrawal of nationality.

Hassan Mohammed Al-Hammadi, former director of Sharjah Education Office, from Sharjah, detained on July 30, 2012. 10 years in prison.

Hussain al-Jabiri, former head of Training and Development Department at Abu Dhabi Municipality, from Abu Dhabi, detained on April 9, 2012, 10 years in prison, in addition to the withdrawal of nationality.

Hussain al-Najjar, principal referee in physics, detained on July 16, 2012, 10 years in prison.

Ibrahim Al-Marzooqi, Teacher and specialist in education, detained on July 16, 2012, from Abu Dhabi, 10 years in prison, in addition to the withdrawal of nationality.